December 20, 2017 – CSXT 6044 heads up ballast train C026-20 as it slowly pulls through the new interlocking at Nortonville, Ky after dropping ballast on a section of the new track 2 being installed, connecting the sidings at Romney and Nortonville into a two track main.
December 20, 2017 – A light rain falls as CSXT 4319 (GP38-2) & 2046 (GP38-3) on CSX J726-20 heads north to run around its train at the Harsco, Black Beauty Abrasives yard in Drakesboro, Ky on CSX’s MH&E Branch. This is the only train that currently runs on the MH&E and up until a few weeks ago it only ran during darkness. Now it runs on Monday and Wednesday, leaving out of Madisonville’s Atkinson Yard in the morning, giving an opportunity to photograph rail action on the branch.
December 21, 2017 – Connecticut DOT locomotive 6699, in New Haven paint scheme, trails as the last locomotive on CSX Q647-21 as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision at Hopkinsville, Ky. From what I can find out it’s headed for a rebuild and from I’m told it’s supposed to be going to NRE in Mount Vernon, Indiana. Why it wasn’t dropped in Evansville, Indiana for the Evansville Western to Pickup I’m not sure. If anyone knows I’d appreciate info in a comment! It looks like it’s a ex-CSXT 2189/SBD 6280/CRR 2009(GP38).
December 14, 2017 – CSX local J726-14 prepares to back onto Main 2 as it backs out of the Anaconda Spur after picking up two car loads of aluminum ingots at Century Aluminum in Sebree, Ky, as intermodal CSX Q026-14 heads north on the Henderson Subdivision from Main 1. The new two track main that runs from Sebree, Ky to Robards is now open and running traffic.
December 16, 2017 – Day 47 – iPhone Daily B&W Photo Challenge – Xavier – When photographing children, including some of their favorite toys can make for a better photo, plus a nice memory in years to come!
December 17, 2017 – Day 48 – iPhone Daily B&W Photo Challenge – Elaina’s Eyes – The eyes can make the picture!! When photographing a portrait or closeup of someone, always do you best to make the eyes sharp!!
December 18, 2017 – Day 49 – iPhone Daily B&W Photo Challenge – Looking Up – A different viewpoint can help make a more interesting photograph, as with this shot of my nephew Damion looking up from the chair he was hiding behind.
December 19, 2017 – Day 50 – iPhone Daily B&W Photo Challenge – Elvis – Well, in this instance he hasn’t left the building! LOL This fiberglass figure of the king was shot in one of our local eating establishments. Keep an eye out for interesting photos no matter where you’re at, when you have your iPhone with you!
December 20, 2017 – Day 51 – iPhone Daily B&W Photo Challenge – Crossing – Anyone that knows me, understands that I photograph a lot of trains!!! Here I’m waiting for the train that is way down the end of the tracks. Look closely and you can see the headlight! Have a passion in your life? If so, photograph it!!
December 21, 2017 – Day 52 – iPhone Daily B&W Photo Challenge – Little House – When you’re out driving around keep an eye out for interesting things you think might make a good picture. The little shack in the middle of sea oats provided me with just that!
December 22, 2017 – Day 53 – iPhone Daily B&W Photo Challenge – Fan – This is what happens when you spend the day inside and remember when you lay down to go to bed that you haven’t shot your picture for the day! Pictures are all around you! You just need to see them!
December 23, 2017 – Day 54 – iPhone Daily B&W Photo Challenge – Hay Bale – Found this hay bale in a field that was overgrown with new hay and liked the textures of how it looked in the late evening. Don’t be afraid to shoot photos with your smart phone after the sun has set! It may take a little more patience, but the rewards can be worth it.
December 24, 2017 – Day 55 – iPhone Daily B&W Photo Challenge – Making Memories – Christmas Eve the family and kids gathered at my niece Jeanne’s home, as we do most years. Her husband had his O Scale train setup, so the kids could run it around the tree and as you can see from Xavier’s expression, they all love it! Makes for a pretty good picture as well! Making memories!!
December 25, 2017 – Day 56 – iPhone Daily B&W Photo Challenge – Tabatha – One of my cats, Tabatha, has curled up on my niece Elaina’s bed next to her blankets and stuffed animals. Elaina adores both my cats and Tabatha epically. Seeing scenes like this I often wonder if the cats feel the same way about her and cuddle up next to her things that smell like her.
December 15, 2017 – Day 46 – iPhone Daily B&W Photo Challenge – Help!! – I’ve passed this bale of hay several times till today I couldn’t stand it anymore and stopped to take the picture! Finding a picture that evokes an emotion can help add impact to your pictures, be it humor, sadness, love or the countless other ways to show emotion.
December 8, 2017 – A Chicago Transit Authority train stops in a station on the elevated tracks know as the “L” in Chicago, Illinois among the tall canyons between the downtown buildings as the last light fades from the sky.
December 15, 2017 – CSX Q515 heads south on the Henderson Subdivision at Mortons Gap, Ky with SunRail Commuter Service unit 110 trailing as the fifth unit.
According to Wikipedia: SunRail is a commuter rail system in the Greater Orlando, Florida area. Service began on May 1, 2014. Phase 1 comprises 31 miles (50 km) with 12 stations along the former CSX Transportation “A” Line connecting Volusia County and Orange County through Downtown Orlando. The extensions proposed for Phase 2 would add a new northern terminus at DeLand and four more stations southward, terminating at Poinciana in Osceola County. It is expected to be fully completed sometime in 2017. Formerly known as “Central Florida Commuter Rail”, the SunRail system is financed by the state and Federal governments and the counties it serves. SunRail is Florida’s second commuter rail system after South Florida’s Tri-Rail.
SunRail opened on May 1, 2014 with over 10,000 passengers riding the trains on opening day.[6] In 2015 the system saw 957,800 passenger trips, for an overall average of 3,800 paying riders per weekday.
December 7, 2017 – It’s a cold and windy winter’s night as a CTA train pulls into the State/Lake Street “L” station in Downtown Chicago, Illinois as bundled up workers begin their commute home from the downtown area.
December 8, 2017 – A Chicago Transit Authority train stops in a station on the elevated tracks know as the “L” in downtown Chicago, Illinois as the light fades from the sky and the city begins to light up for the night.
December 8, 2017 – It’s not always about the train!!! Here a slow shutterspeed provides an interesting view from the last car of a CTA Blue Line Train as it leaves the station in Chicago, IL.
December 8, 2017 – The motorman and his elves on Chicago Transit Authority’s (CTA) “Holiday Train,” Santa’s Express, keep a watchful eye as passengers come and go from the train at the Cumberland CTA Station on the Blue Line in Chicago, Illinois, before their last stop of the day at O’Hare International Airport.
December 8, 2017 – A blue line train heads down the track approaching the Damen Interlocking in the late evening light, toward the Damen Avenue Station in Chicago, Illinois, on it’s way toward Forest Park.
December 8, 2017 – Heading into the S curve at the Damen Interlocking, a Blue Line train actually bound for Forest Park, but the operator forgot to change the sign, pulls into the Damen Avenue Station in Chicago, Illinois in the cold late afternoon.
December 14, 2017 – Day 45 – iPhone Daily B&W Photo Challenge – Patterns – Today’s shot is of patterns made by stacked logs outside at a sawmill south of Sebree, Ky. Patterns are another way of adding depth and interest to your photographs! They’re all around us, you just have to pay attention and find a way to incorporate them into your pictures!
December 13, 2017 – Day 44 – iPhone Daily B&W Photo Challenge – Buddy – My niece and her husband David are out of town this weekend and we’re watching their dog Buddy. I’ve been in the house all day and hadn’t got my photo for the day. I was looking around for something here at the house that I thought would make an interesting shot when I spotted Buddy sitting outside my sister’s bedroom door watching or protecting her? I was trying to sneak up behind him and you can tell how successful I was!
December 12, 2017 – Day 43 – iPhone Daily B&W Photo Challenge – The Chair – While waiting this morning to talk to someone at the bank I sat down in a chair in the waiting area and this mirrored chair was across from me and this is the resulting picture. Always keep aware of the simple things around you that can make for a good photograph!
December 11, 2017 – Day 42 – iPhone Daily B&W Photo Challenge – Ballet – My niece Elaina is taking ballet and once a month they have an open session where parents and family can watch from the doorway and behind a window. Today was the day and this is my favorite moment of her! This was her poise… no prompting. Of course, I’ve been photographing her since the day she was born so she’s quite used to having her picture taken.
December 10, 2017 – Day 41 – iPhone Daily B&W Photo Challenge – Mother and Child – This is my niece and her son. What’s to say other than there’s a lot of love going on in this photograph. To capture moments like this in your daily life, you have to be quick to capture “the moment.”
December 9, 2017 – Day 40 – iPhone Daily B&W Photo Challenge – Railfan – A railfan runs for his car as our Amtrak train departs the station. Diagonal lines can help make for a more interesting photograph. Actually, any repeating pattern can help add to the dynamics of your photo.
December 8, 2017 – Day 39 – iPhone Daily B&W Photo Challenge – Arriving – A Chicago Transit Authority train pulls into the Clark Street “L” station. When photographing a scene use leading lines to help draw interest to the subject of your photograph. It will make for a stronger picture!